Oktoberfest

Oktoberfest is a 16 day festival held each year in Munich, Germany. This Bavarian festival runs from late September to early October. The festival traditionally ends on the first Sunday in October. It officially starts with the tapping of the first barrel of Oktoberfest beer. The popular festival attracts more than six million people. 2009 is the 176th Oktoberfest. Cities around the world hold Okoberfests modeled after the Munich fest.

The festival features fabulous German foods, music and, of course, beer. Some of the foods traditionally served at Oktoberfests are roast pork, potato pancakes, sausages (Bratwurst and Weisswurst, to name two), Sauerbraten (a German style pot roast), spaetzle, red cabbage, pretzels, strudel and many more wonderful German dishes. There is even a tent that serves only veal.

According to Wikipedia,“the original Oktoberfest occurred in Munich, on October 18, 1810, for the commemoration of the marriage between the Crown Prince Ludwig and Princess Therese of Saxe-Hildburghausen.”

For more information about Oktoberfest, go to Wikipedia and the official Oktoberfest website.

I would recommend you go to the official Oktoberfest site… there are some wonderful pictures of the 2009 Oktoberfest now in progress. The foods, the beer, the rides, the beer, the crowds of people, the beer(I think you get the idea), and information about attending, in case I’ve inspired you to hop a plane and go there. If you do, you can get some nifty official 2009 Oktoberfest souvenirs .... and send me some pictures!

Growing up in New York, we attended a yearly Oktoberfest and I loved the foods, the music and the festive atmosphere, I do miss going to it.

This month we are celebrating Oktoberfest by posting various German recipes. I hope you try them and enjoy them as much as we do!